Table 1.

Content Outline of Psychoeducation & Mutual Support Group Program

Session	Goals	Content	Responsible Persons
1 (Family caregivers only)	To orientate to the program and to establish trusting relationship between participants and instructors	Orientation to the program and introduction of group leaders and members to one another Negotiation of goals and roles and responsibilities; Ensuring confidentiality An overview of the topics and their relevance to group members	Research psychiatric nurse
2 (Family caregivers and patients)	To understand schizophrenia, its symptoms and short-term and long-term effects to patients and families	Presentation of a video of one family caring for a person with schizophrenia, with descriptions of symptoms and illness behavior of patient Discussion of the importance of knowledgeable involvement by family members to patient and the whole family. Initial discussion of the mental illness and its effects to family	Research psychiatric nurse
3 (Family caregivers, family members and patients)	To understand the theoretical concepts, etiology and the course of schizophrenia	An overview of theories of schizophrenia from a bio-psychosocial perspective Discussion of the psychiatric conceptualization of schizophrenia, a review of etiology, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment	Research nurse and one psychiatrist
4-5 (family caregivers only)	To recall and share about illness symptoms and their effects on family life	Information sharing about symptoms and illness behavior; discussion about their effects to family lives Sharing of intense emotions toward patient and suggestion on how to deal with negative emotions to patient An overview of treatments and rehabilitation programs	Research nurse and researcher
6 (family caregivers and patients)	To realize the effects of medications and its compliance	Explanation of positive and negative effects of medications for schizophrenia Explanation of the importance of drug compliance and maintenance Discussion of the specific problems related to the side-effects	Research nurse and one psychiatrist
7-8 (Family caregivers only)	To openly share and more understand about individual concerns and cultural issues	Discussion about Chinese culture of family and mental illness Sharing of intense emotions and feelings about patient care provision and family interactions More information sharing about schizophrenia and its related illness behavior Discuss about the ways to deal with negative emotions to patient	Research nurse
9-10 (family caregivers only)	To improve the family environment and social support	Introduction of the role of environmental stress as a risk factor for acute exacerbations of schizophrenia Discussion of the significance of family as a source of social support and its role and responsibility within the social environment of patient Presentation of family stress and expressed emotion and improvement of family relationships and emotional environment	Research nurse and researcher
11-13 (family caregivers only)	To manage psychosocial needs for themselves, patient and family	Discussion about each member’s psychosocial needs Information about medications, managing illness, and available mental health services Effective communication skills with patient and seeking social support from others Exploration of home management strategies e.g. finance and budgets, environment and hygiene	Research nurse and a clinical psychologist
14-16 (family caregivers only)	To adopt new roles and challenges and skills of coping and patient management	Sharing of coping skills and mutual support Enhancing problem solving skills by working on some individual patient management situations Conducting behavioral rehearsals of interaction with patient and other family members within group Practicing coping skills learned during the sessions to real family life (in-between group sessions) and evaluate the results	Research nurse
17-18 (family caregivers and patients)	To review the previous learning and to prepare for group termination	A review and summary of the materials covered in previous sessions Preparation and discussion on termination issues e.g. separation anxiety, independent living and use of coping skills learned Evaluation of learning experiences and goals achievement Explanation of post-intervention assessment and follow-up taken in the following months	Nurse researcher

Note. Total intervention period of at least 36 weeks.